3 held in Lakshmanananda case

The Hindu, Oct 7, 2008

Prafulla Das
Attacks on houses of Christians reported in Kalahandi

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa police on Monday arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda.

Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanatan Badamajhi, arrested from the Tumudibandha area of riot-hit Kandhamal district, were active members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Two guns, masks and black dresses were recovered from them, the new Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu over telephone.

Mr. Praharaj, who did not comment on the religious identity of the three, said more arrests were likely in the case.

Soon after Lakshmanananda was killed, by about 40 armed men at his ashram at
Jalespata in Kandhamal on August 23, the then DGP Gopal Chandra Nanda said the crime was committed by suspected Maoists. However, confusion was created after leaders of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal claimed that militant Christians had killed the Swami.

Attacks on the houses of Christians were reported from the neighbouring Kalahandi district. The houses were burnt down in Sukuli village in Kalahandi early in the day.